1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - Z-Lite

Usually when a son buys a car from his dad, it’s a family hand-me-down, a car passed on through the household and worn to the point when good ol’ Pop needs a new ride. That’s how I got my first car, a 10-year-old, beat-on daily driver, and I’m pretty sure there are many of you out there with the same story. But here’s one with a twist—a story of how a father and son made a deal on a bitchin’ new car that made both of them as happy as a dog with two tails.

In 1968, Kenneth Etten was in the market for a new car. He had just seen a brochure for the new-for-1969 Camaro and was infatuated with the stylish GM pony from the get-go. On top of the Chevy’s tough guy looks, there was an options list a mile long. Not only did the tasteful Rally Sport and sporty SS packages pique his interest, but the wide white stripes, spoiler, and powerful small-block of the Z/28 option added a knockout punch too. So the decision was made: He was going to chase down the new Camaro and custom-order it to his liking.

2/8Ken Etten knew exactly what he wanted when he ordered his Camaro in October 1968: a Z/28 with the RS appearance package, Fathom Green paint, white stripes, and a green interior. Except for a 1976 repaint, it remains in remarkably well-kept, original condition.

Now, coming from a small town in Wisconsin, the question of where to purchase the new Chevy was easy to answer. Since returning from active Navy duty in Vietnam two years earlier, Ken had already purchased a few hot Bow Ties from the only GM dealership in his area, Gelhaus and Brost Chevrolet in Medford, Wisconsin. So as he had done several times before, Ken went to the dealership and asked to talk to its salesman, Larry. The experienced and award-winning salesman greeted Ken, showed him the ropes on the new Camaro, and then sat down with him to take his order. The young buyer already had a good idea of what he wanted in his new pony car, and they got down to business.

Larry carefully checked off all the options that Ken wanted. First was the RS package, an appearance kit that included hidden headlights, revised taillights with backup lights under the rear bumper, RS badging, and sporty exterior bright trim. Ken also wanted the race-car-inspired Z/28 option. This particular performance package was designed to help the Camaro compete in the SCCA Trans-Am series. The ballsy option included a solid-lifter 302 V-8, four-speed transmission, power disc brakes, and two wide stripes down the hood and decklid.

3/8New belts, hoses, and a pair of Hooker headers were added in 2011, but otherwise the Camaro’s engine remains like new.

At that point Ken leaned back and took a good look at what he had just ordered. Confident that the Camaro was to his liking on paper, he stood up and shook hands with the salesman, knowing that he had just built one of the most potent ponies of its generation. With that he gave Larry a bear hug and thanked him for his help. Ken also told him that he’d see him back at the family homestead, for Larry the salesman was Larry Etten, Ken’s dear ol’ dad!

The Camaro was ordered on October 31, 1968. Ken spent the next three months pacing and sleepless, anticipating its appearance at the dealership. Finally, on the brutally cold day of February 18, 1969, the custom-ordered Camaro RS Z/28 rolled into Gelhaus and Brost. Ken was beside himself when he picked up the car, as it was everything he expected it would be both aesthetically and mechanically. The Fathom Green paint was set off by the wide white stripes, and the potent 302 rumbled like a powerplant in a track-bred racer. Interestingly, Ken chose an all green scheme, accenting the exterior paint with a Midnight Green standard bucket seat interior.

4/8Since Ken’s Z/28 was an early build, the car has a few ’67-’68 parts on it, including the rear spoiler. Note how it doesn’t fit flush with the wider ’69-model quarter-panels.

The elder Etten was happy with his son’s choice. His previous sales to Ken included a ’66 Impala SS and a hot ’68 Chevelle SS396, both potent hot rods built for a young car buff. Ken paid for the new Chevy with monies earned playing drums in a local rock band, and also by receiving funds for his schooling through the government GI bill.

The car was a great performer from the start, and Ken fell in love with its power curve and handling. He also did a typical day two mod to the new Chevy, adding a set of Hooker headers for better exhaust flow. Looking to the future, when it came time to replace the muffler, he bought a lifetime warrantee with Midas for replacement, and did the same with a similar agreement from J.C. Penney for the battery. Smart guy, that Ken!

5/8Ken was wise to relieve the car of daily driver chores after just two years of the harsh Wisconsin weather. Otherwise there’d be little left of this beauty.

Life in Wisconsin was tough on the pony car. Long winters driving on salted roads was detrimental to the health of the beloved Z. After only two years out on the road, Ken retired the car from daily driving duty, opting to keep it in the garage during the week and to flog it only on summer weekends. He had the foresight to suspect that the option-laden Camaro would one day be worth some serious cash, as he saw just how most of these muscle cars were mistreated back in the day. For the next 30 years the Camaro led an easy life, which is why today the car looks like a time capsule.

Even though the car was garage kept, Ken decided to touch up the paint on the Camaro in 1976. He called in his brother Larry Jr. to give him a hand, and most of the Fathom Green was done over, except for the roof. The car remained rust-free from day one, and no major bodywork was ever done on the Chevy.

The Camaro came from the factory with a flat hood

6/8Ken has learned that few Z/28s ordered with the RS package also included the body-colored elastomeric bumper. Most opted for the chrome front bumper.

The car has some interesting features. Since it was ordered very early in the ’69 model year, the Camaro came from the factory with a flat hood, not a cowl-induction type found on later builds. Also, the rear spoiler is a ’67-’68 design, since the ’69 spoiler wasn’t in production yet, so it’s not quite as wide as the flanks of the new ’69 rear quarters. Ken was also recently made aware that his Z/28 is rather unique in that very few were ordered with the Rally Sport option along with the elastomeric front bumper.

Today the car still rides like she did the day Ken brought her home for the first time. In 2011, Ken had all her fluids flushed and belts checked and/or replaced. The Hooker headers that he added back in 1971 were on their way out, so a brand-new set of ceramic-coated Hooker headers went on the car at that time. Most everything on the car still works, including the AM radio, but the original clock works sporadically at best. Also, due to the header installation, the linkage for the steering column lock was disabled, requiring manual twisting of the steering column to engage reverse. This is very typical for Chevrolets of that era.

He had just built one of the most potent ponies of its generation

7/8

8/8The faded carpet is about the only tipoff to the interior’s original condition. The vinyl seats are in mint condition.

The interior is amazing. The original vinyl seats don’t have a mark on them. The carpet has faded somewhat, but the new goldish-green hue complements the interior perfectly. It even still has the original floor mats, which usually got tossed after a year or so of heavy use. Ken also has the original owner’s manual (and plastic sleeve) along with the warranty card, broadcast copy, dealer copy of car shipper, and Protect-O-Plate. Since the car lived life inside a busy garage for more than 40 years, it has minor flaws from bicycles and other toys dinging it. “I’ve thought about having it repainted but decided against it, especially since more people of late are showing an interest in ‘unrestored’ collector cars,” Ken admits.

Ken now lives in sunny Florida and can take the car out anytime for a good flogging on the pin-straight, salt-free Sunshine State roads. He’ll never part with it or change it, as it is still the apple of his eye, as appealing to him now as the day he and his father sat down and drew up this beautiful Camaro.

I want to thank long time automotive journalist Martyn Schorr for giving me the heads-up on this beautiful ride.